Queen of Swords

[Oraclekelly]

Hi everyone! I wanted to receive some feedback about your interpretation or experience with the queen of swords RWS version for the sword/background and facial expressions. 
 

For me, my focus is mostly on the sword’s direction toward the clear sky and the facial expression of the Queen and the figure on her throne. They look upset or like they are scowling. 

 

For me the sword represents cutting to the truth/heart of the matter in a very direct way. The background is clear skies at the top but there are many clouds which are low and fluffy. Those low clouds feel like confusion to me. 

 

The look on her face along with the figure on the throne don’t seem very pleased about the situation or what needed to be said or thought. I interpreted this as a mature figure communicating information that was to the point and brutally honest creating a self-aware moment. There is a seriousness about it all. 

When in reverse I almost always get a manipulation or someone to watch out for.  

So my questions are:

 

How have you interpreted the sword and clouds in the background? And also the facial expressions of the queen and the figure in the throne? 

 

(I couldn’t figure out how to add in the RWS image, my link wouldn’t load. Apologies about that) 

[DanielJUK]

@Oraclekelly You can post links and attach images when you get to 5 posts, there are some forum restrictions until then 🙂 

[Oraclekelly]

Oh ok thank you for explaining this 🙂 I really couldn’t figure it out lol 

[Chariot]

I can help with giving you the image:

 

I've always struggled with this card, to be honest.  The clouds on the horizon seem to be 'clouds on the horizon' as usually meant by the term.  In other words, trouble is not far off.  The sword, I suppose, is necessary when depicting the Queen of Swords, so I don't attribute too much significance to it—other than the fact that she is holding it upright and looks more than ready to use it!

I agree that she looks implacable—maybe chronically angry, or resentful, and looking for resolution of an issue.  But will she ever be satisfied with a resolution?  Maybe not.

It's interesting to me that many OTHER decks depict the Queen of Swords as being calmer, more intellectual, and certainly less emotionally defensive.  These Queens inspire confidence because they are able to step back from a situation, see it logically and clearly, and help others get to grips with it.  They may not suffer fools gladly, but they are motivated by logic and nothing else. They are good to have in your corner, when you need an honest assessment of a situation. This RWS Queen doesn't look particularly prepared to help others, though, does she?  I wouldn't want to cross her.  She may be powerful, but is she too damaged to ever be satisfied or kind—never mind happy? 

As the Swords suit is usually connected to intellect and logic, I find Pixie's forbidding-looking Queen here a bit disconcerting.  Okay, Swords is also the suit of action and conflict, so maybe that's what this Queen is about.  However, those clouds on the horizon are worrying. They are always there, preparing to move in and create a storm.  The sky above might be clear at the moment, but it won't be for long!  If you deal with the Queen of Swords, you walk on eggshells.  Logic and intellect shouldn't leave you feeling nervous about making a mistake, or saying the wrong thing.

I see people personified by this card (in this deck) as people who have risen above distress and adversity by their own efforts, but the residual pain of having to do so is always with them.  This card is PTSD personified.  This Queen is damaged.  These people value independence, not from the joy of doing what they want, but out of lack of trust in others.  They see reality as uncompromising and tough, and life as something to be beaten.  They are logical, but it's almost logic to a fault.  It's not that they have no feelings, it's that they've learned not to trust their feelings.   They refuse to show weakness, and can carry that to extremes.  This is not a comfortable card!  'Nurturing'—an aspect of all the tarot Queens—is there, but with this Queen we're not sure WHAT she is nurturing. It doesn't feel healthy to me. 

I would see this card in its reversed aspect as somebody whose life has been badly aspected, and they have not been able to pull themselves entirely out of it.  Maybe they have tried, and failed.  Or maybe they haven't even tried, but just accepted their lot as something they couldn't change.

I would see the upright Queen as successful at overcoming difficulties—but at a price.  I would see the reversed Queen as unsuccessful at overcoming difficulties ...but also at a price. 

Edited September 7, 2024 by Chariot

[Raggydoll]

I’m currently reading a book called ‘Ancestral Grimoire’ by Nancy Hendrickson, and it uses court cards as a way to explore the personality of specific ancestors. I quite enjoyed reading the description of the Queen of Swords and thought that I could share it here. 

[DanielJUK]

I found working out the Queen and King of Swords worked best for me by thinking of the people they represented in my life. I realised they matched an elderly couple I know, they are deeply in love and been married decades and in their careers, were brilliant thinkers! One was a Dr of Chemistry and taught in a university, and the other as a psychologist. Both of them, NEVER showed you their emotions, you never knew what they felt about everything or about you. The wife had a face a bit like this Queen, she was quite intimidating when you didn't know her closely. Like her manner put people off and kept strangers at an arm's length. This was really a protective shield but when they connected more deeply with you, that wall goes away. I realised after some years they had a deep heart and adored each other but never showed it publicly. Like they would debate policies or have a discussion or do logical things but there was a love that was very deep. They taught me a lot about first impressions about people, like getting to know them deeply showed they were fascinating people but initial impressions were intimidating.

 

About the Clouds ~ It's interesting the Sky is clear and blue. Some tarot authors have said this is a "Spring Sky", the other Swords Courts have a more Wintry looking sky. It's clear and a bird flies and the sword points towards it. This is like freedom of thought, growth and freedom, clarity and able to soar through life. I wonder also if it could be a clear sky in Winter to match the other cards, that would make more sense and you know those clear skies often have a chill or forthcoming snow. This is a cool card in tone. The clouds though are very low down, like around her in the background. She uses logic to get ahead and progress but she might not be able to see what is around her. I don't perceive the clouds as a negative and maybe she faces ahead, so she is above the confusion and being deceived by what's around her. She can see through those clouds.

 

About the Sword ~ I am not keen on what Waite said about this Sword and the card, it started the idea she is the "widower". I find this a bit of a misogynistic idea, like why is she the widower full of sorrow and sad thoughts and the King isn't? This was his writings on the sword from the Pictorial Key to the Tarot, "Her right hand raises the weapon vertically and the hilt rests on an arm of her royal chair the left hand is extended, the arm raised her countenance is severe but chastened; it suggests familiarity with sorrow. It does not represent mercy, and, her sword notwithstanding, she is scarcely a symbol of power. Divinatory Meanings: Widowhood, female sadness and embarrassment, absence, sterility, mourning, privation, separation". I personally don't follow this idea totally as I find it reductive but that was the original idea about it. The Sword for me is prominent and shows that logic and thinking is more important to her than feelings and emotions. But just my ideas 🙂 

[Misterei]

2 hours ago, DanielJUK said:

About the Sword ~ I am not keen on what Waite said about this Sword and the card, it started the idea she is the "widower". I find this a bit of a misogynistic idea, like why is she the widower full of sorrow and sad thoughts and the King isn't?

This was his writings on the sword from the Pictorial Key to the Tarot, "... it suggests familiarity with sorrow. It does not represent mercy, and, her sword notwithstanding, she is scarcely a symbol of power. Divinatory Meanings: Widowhood, female sadness and embarrassment, absence, sterility, mourning, privation, separation". I personally don't follow this idea totally as I find it reductive but that was the original idea about it. The Sword for me is prominent and shows that logic and thinking is more important to her than feelings and emotions. But just my ideas 🙂 

Interesting commentary. And I agree, some of Waite's ideas are a product of his time and denigrating to women. I take a vedic astrological approach to the Suits and associate Swords with Saturn, the Great Malefic.

 

What does Saturn do in a chart? He shows limitations and suffering. But also wisdom and karma yoga [purifying karmas through work on the material plane]. In the Indian system, Saturn is an air planet although he's earth in the Western system.

 

Saturn can give widowhood, failure to have children, or loss of children. In our modern society this isn't such a big deal, but through much of history it was. This aspect of Q Swords hits for me. But the Saturn influence also extends to the King. He's the most likely of the Kings to be unmarried and not a family man. So Saturn affects both King and Queen. "Familiarity with sadness" is pure Saturn.

 

The lack of power? This is a complex issue. For example a modern Q Swords might be a lawyer and thus quite powerful. In older societies where this path to power wasn't open to women -- it holds. Saturn is the planet of the common people, the people most often oppressed by rich and powerful Solar types. Thus Q swords [or K Swords] might be in a menial profession or so saddled with duty [caring for sick or elderly family member, frex] that she never rises to her full potential. Saturn is the planet who gives depression. Q Swords is the most likely to be limited by depression or lack of self-esteem. On a higher level, Saturn is often more humble than the other planets.

 

The other planets and other Queens also have their good and bad points. But malefic Saturn gives the whole Swords family a larger dose of suffering. And also a great potential for wisdom. This is what Saturn does.

Edited September 7, 2024 by Misterei

[Chariot]

I personally like the interpretation of the Queen of Swords that @Raggydoll put up, and this is the interpretation I use when I'm dealing with the Queen of Swords in decks other than the RWS Pixie deck.

I think both @DanielJUK and @Misterei hit on the truth, as the Pixie deck was created back at a time when opportunities for women were more socially limited than they are today.  The characteristics we see in Raggydoll's description that we would consider positive characteristics were not encouraged at the time.  So naturally, a woman who possessed these characteristics either suffered for them, or was force to hide them.  So 'sorrow' and probably intense frustration would be a real component of her life, no doubt.

Modern-created decks that follow the RWS system closely usually show the Queen of Swords as a less unhappy-looking and intimidating person than Pixie's illustration does, even if the Queen maintains Pixie's pose ...sitting on the throne, sword upright, etc.  

Other decks go even further, by depicting her in her modern persona ...of a scientist or somebody who is possibly a lawyer or somebody who deals in facts and figures, but is helpful about it, not intimidating.

I've just quickly scanned four Queens from different modern decks, just for comparison.  (They are depicted in reverse order from my discussion below.)

The Queen of Swords surrounded by snow, is from the Anna K Tarot. This Queen looks cold, and maybe even in some pain (note how she is not only grasping the sword by the hilt, but also by the actual blade!) but she doesn't seem intimidating—just somewhat subdued, but alert and unbowed.  The landscape is deep winter, so there is no feeling of warmth here, but the card's aura does not exude conflict or combat.  Just competence, trustworthiness, and calm survival.

The Queen of Swords from The Light Seer's Tarot (a deck I own, but don't actually use) looks quite comfortable being alone and in thinking mode.  Again, she doesn't exude warmth, but seems quite satisfied and relaxed in her life—and looks like she might have an interesting personality.  There is a very active and breezy sky in this version, which does mimic—to some extent—the active sky in Pixie's RWS Queen of Swords card.  There is a lot 'going on' out there, that this Queen is engaging with.

The Queen of Blades (Swords) from The Everyday Enchantment Tarot shows a woman scientist (indoors, at her desk.)  She displays a slightly intimidating expression and some authoritative body language, but she certainly knows her stuff.  She is the person in charge in that room, and is sharing her knowledge with others who are there with her.  (They might be students, employees, or colleagues ...we don't know from this picture.) She doesn't seem unhappy in any way—just aware of her position and focused on the matter at hand—but we are seeing is her at her day job. We haven't a clue what the rest of her life is like.  (Which brings up the point that @DanielJUK made, about getting to know what lies beneath the daunting exterior of the Queen of Swords.)

In the So Below deck from Barbara Moore's The Book of Shadows Tarot, the Queen of Swords is friendly, helpful, and not the least bit intimidating.  She is explaining what looks to be some sort of document with a happy client, out in warm sunshine over a refreshing drink.  She is also at her job, but exudes a different vibe from The Everyday Enchantment's version of the scientist.  This So Below Queen is not the least bit intimidating.  This is the most typically 'Libran' depiction of the Queen of Swords that  I have in my collection.  I find it very hard to reconcile this version with Pixie's RWS version. I think this has to do with our modern take on intellectual and logical skills, versus how society valued these skills in women back in the late 19th and early 20th century. Pixie, back then, was producing illustrations for the RWS deck at the behest of a man who had very definite ideas of what he wanted his cards to show.

Edited September 8, 2024 by Chariot

[akiva]

18 hours ago, DanielJUK said:

About the Sword ~ I am not keen on what Waite said about this Sword and the card, it started the idea she is the "widower". I find this a bit of a misogynistic idea, like why is she the widower full of sorrow and sad thoughts and the King isn't?

 

...

In pre-Waite cartomancy writings the King was regarded quite negatively by some authors. A lot of them describe him as a 'man/lawyer of bad faith'. But L'avenir dévoilé par les cartes (published ~1881) describes him as "a brutal, greedy husband, a rival, a lawsuit, loss of money, fruitless journeys, tribulations and annoyances of all kind". 

 

A lot of the older meanings for the QoS (all court cards tbh) represent concepts and aren't read as a person. Much like the KoS above. DM's like embarrassment, absence, sterility, mourning, privation, separation are used as descriptions for other cards. Similar to noun + adjective in Lenormand. For instance Sun + QoS could be a lack of happiness, but can also be the red hot flush you get when you're embarrassed.

 

I've had QoS appear a lot lately in my spreads as I've been working with a widow. The card was appearing before I even knew the lady was one too 😯. But this lady is loving life. So it shows the archetype can still exist, even without the old world misogyny. 

 

What's interesting is how modern readers state the Queen of Swords as the intellectual/logical thinker. When for some older authors (like Thylbus) that would of been the Queen of Coins/Clubs. She was the grammar expert, well spoken, skilled and educated. Probably because Coins/Clubs represented business skill and therefore intelligence, and she could afford it 😅

 

On 9/6/2024 at 11:26 PM, Oraclekelly said:

How have you interpreted the sword and clouds in the background? And also the facial expressions of the queen and the figure in the throne? 

The clouds to me give a hemmed in/can't see the solution feeling. The clouds are so low you can't even see the horizon properly. It doesn't feel hopeful.

 

The sword I just see as a suit emblem

 

The facial expression matches the old world view of what she represents. Though some older cartomancy writers also said she was "seduced then abandoned". In the RWS card she definitely looks like she's saying "wtf, you're leaving already?!" 🤣

 

The throne I've never given much thought, is the symbol above the butterfly two backwards moons or sickles? 

[Misterei]

5 hours ago, akiva said:

I've had QoS appear a lot lately in my spreads as I've been working with a widow. The card was appearing before I even knew the lady was one too 😯. But this lady is loving life. So it shows the archetype can still exist, even without the old world misogyny. 

I think this touches upon a modern trend to make everything *positive*. Let's face it. Suffering is part of life. I'm quite all right with Swords courts showing people who've gone through hardship and suffering. Some people don't have easy lives and it's ok to have the Swords Courts that show this.

 

Even the modern widow who's adjusted and has a happy life went through suffering upon the death of her spouse [I would assume]. And some of those widows in days of yore may have had reason to celebrate the death of their husbands in spite of whatever social or financial hardships widowhood may have implied.

5 hours ago, akiva said:

What's interesting is how modern readers state the Queen of Swords as the intellectual/logical thinker. When for some older authors (like Thylbus) that would of been the Queen of Coins/Clubs. She was the grammar expert, well spoken, skilled and educated. Probably because Coins/Clubs represented business skill and therefore intelligence, and she could afford it 😅

I get confused with the German vs. French suits as applied to Tarot. In one system Clubs would resonate more with Swords, while in another system Spades would resonate more with Swords. I can never keep straight which is which 🙄 . Plus there's  *Acorns*. I think Acorns was the suit that showed suffering?

5 hours ago, akiva said:

The throne I've never given much thought, is the symbol above the butterfly two backwards moons or sickles? 

There's a whole thing with the Thrones which I learnt from a Theresa Reed book [?]. Q Wands' throne rises above her head showing limitless ambition. Q Cups' throne rises above her head in a shell motif showing ambition to protect. Q Pents' throne is equal to her head showing realistic ambitions. Q Swords throne is lower than her head showing little ambition or humble ambitions. Similar rules apply to the Kings. And there's a whole thing about whether the throne sits upon the bare earth or a dias. But I'll end here.

[RunningWild]

6 hours ago, Misterei said:

There's a whole thing with the Thrones which I learnt from a Theresa Reed book [?]. Q Wands' throne rises above her head showing limitless ambition. Q Cups' throne rises above her head in a shell motif showing ambition to protect. Q Pents' throne is equal to her head showing realistic ambitions. Q Swords throne is lower than her head showing little ambition or humble ambitions. Similar rules apply to the Kings. And there's a whole thing about whether the throne sits upon the bare earth or a dias.

 

I’d never even noticed the difference in the height of the backs of the thrones before.  Thank you for this.  

[Oraclekelly]

@ChariotThank you! Your interpretation is so informative, so many nice bits to consider. I agree this card is uncomfortable. 
 

Quote

 

However, those clouds on the horizon are worrying. They are always there, preparing to move in and create a storm.  The sky above might be clear at the moment, but it won't be for long!  If you deal with the Queen of Swords, you walk on eggshells.  

 

Never thought about the clouds as a storm forming. Which seeing it now would seem so obvious. Seeing it this way adds dimension to it, a storm on the horizon or rising up? And how much damage will she cause with her words? You have been forewarned, use caution and prepare for her truths and brace yourself. So much movement, so much air energy, like a storm. 

 

The questions that come to mind would be is she brewing up this storm or reacting to it? Maybe it’s a mix of both.

 

@Raggydoll this interpretation brings her up to date, it modernizes her. Makes her more relatable and less intimidating because she is described as more of a confidant. 

 

@akiva It looks like butterflies. Did a quick google search and the butterflies are suppose to represent transformation and her softer side. Which seems wild to me because she doesn’t seem very soft at all.

 

 

[RunningWild]

I don’t see the QoS as being a problem.  She’s someone who has experienced some things.  I perceive her expression in the RWS deck as stoic.  She’s not emotive.  Her one hand is outstretched and in a sense she’s inviting a conversation but keep it up on the up and up.  She suffers no fools and that sword can clear the air…or you, with her words.  She has boundaries.  I think the clouds, for me, represent those things that brought her to this place.  But you’ll see no drama, that’s some other queen..  This one has boundaries and you aren’t to cross them.

[Chariot]

5 hours ago, RunningWild said:

I don’t see the QoS as being a problem.  She’s someone who has experienced some things.  I perceive her expression in the RWS deck as stoic.  She’s not emotive.  Her one hand is outstretched and in a sense she’s inviting a conversation but keep it up on the up and up.  She suffers no fools and that sword can clear the air…or you, with her words.  She has boundaries.  I think the clouds, for me, represent those things that brought her to this place.  But you’ll see no drama, that’s some other queen..  This one has boundaries and you aren’t to cross them.

I like the idea of 'stoic.'  I can certainly see this in the RWS Queen of Swords.  She hasn't  had an easy life, has she?  

[akiva]

15 hours ago, Misterei said:

I think this touches upon a modern trend to make everything *positive*. Let's face it. Suffering is part of life. I'm quite all right with Swords courts showing people who've gone through hardship and suffering. Some people don't have easy lives and it's ok to have the Swords Courts that show this.

 

Even the modern widow who's adjusted and has a happy life went through suffering upon the death of her spouse [I would assume]. And some of those widows in days of yore may have had reason to celebrate the death of their husbands in spite of whatever social or financial hardships widowhood may have implied.

Yes 100% this. Swords are meant to be negative, they're swords. It's the equivalent of having a suit of guns in a modern deck. There's no way people would have a suit of guns and be like "they mean thoughts and logic" 

 

In the years of giga-misogyny, I'm sure there were many women with good reason to become widows 🤣

 

15 hours ago, Misterei said:

I get confused with the German vs. French suits as applied to Tarot. In one system Clubs would resonate more with Swords, while in another system Spades would resonate more with Swords. I can never keep straight which is which 🙄 . Plus there's  *Acorns*. I think Acorns was the suit that showed suffering?

So ignoring German and focusing on French, the oldest reference to tarot suits, French playing card suits and elements is from La Signification de l'ancien jeu des chartes pythagorique ‐ 1582 Jean Gosselin:

 

Tiles (Diamonds) - Batons - Earth

Clovers (Clubs) - Coins - Water

Hearts - Cups - Air

Spades - Swords - Fire

 

Iirc Pythagoras has nothing to do with that book either. He was then what Lenormand is today.

 

The German system basically swaps Clubs with Spades. And the suit equivalents are:

 

Acorns - Clubs

Leaves - Spades 

Bells - Diamonds

Hearts - Hearts 

 

7 hours ago, Oraclekelly said:

@akiva It looks like butterflies. Did a quick google search and the butterflies are suppose to represent transformation and her softer side. Which seems wild to me because she doesn’t seem very soft at all.

I had a similar thought process. Maybe because they're set in stone, that means something? Can't transform if the butterfly is too cold and solid 🤔

[DanielJUK]

I've moved this thread to the Individual Card Meanings area 🙂 

[flora]

On 9/7/2024 at 12:26 AM, Oraclekelly said:

 

When in reverse I almost always get a manipulation or someone to watch out for.  

So my questions are:

 

How have you interpreted the sword and clouds in the background? And also the facial expressions of the queen and the figure in the throne? 

 

(I couldn’t figure out how to add in the RWS image, my link wouldn’t load. Apologies about that) 

The queen of swords upright is actually my favourite of them all. To me those clouds stand for confusion,ignorance and mental noise. She thrones above this. The sword, refering to the Ace of swords, stands for her intellect and she can cut straight through bullshit. Emotions usually don't get the better side of her, but on a bad day (reversed) her words can cut like a knife. She is the only queen that can defend herself. She does not need a king beside her. That tassle on her wrist,like in RW images,could mean she possibly cut herself free from whatever keeping her bound, referring to the 8 of swords. She is independent. Maybe an authority, maybe a widow or just divoced. Her stern expression looks into one direction. She sees the situation clearly with concentration. She has seen it all and maybe she sees things coming. Chances are high that she has a good clue about it. This makes her a great ally and advisor. She has no need for pulling a fake smile or any kind of drama. This might let her appear as cold. But she is honest and tells things the way they really are. And she possibly likes metal music! (I get her a lot in this context...:D)

 

In reverse things can get dodgy like with any court card.

She could be mentally impaired and not seeing straight or emotions getting her better side. Like a mourning widow, an elder lady suffering dementia, an evil bitch. She might suffer from depression. In rare cases she could have psychopathic tendencies, but this is more up to the King of Swords in reverse. (He can be an evil f.......) More often she just lacks empathy.

 

Thats my take on her so far. Upright she is a very cool and sound lady.

 

PS. I also had her for woman that miscarried or can't conceive. This can be a very sad topic.

 

 

Edited September 30, 2024 by flora

[Misterei]

On 9/9/2024 at 1:22 AM, akiva said:

Acorns - Clubs

Leaves - Spades 

Bells - Diamonds

Hearts - Hearts

Thanks. This German system actually makes more sense to me than the French.  I think Acorns relate to suffering and Leaves to growth. Thus clubs/acorns would be closer to Swords and leaves/spades would be closer to Wands. Certainly LN cards giving Q Clubs as Snake relates a bit to Q Swords. LOL a negative Q Swords can be a real snake 😠

[Misterei]

On 9/8/2024 at 6:04 PM, Oraclekelly said:

... It looks like butterflies. Did a quick google search and the butterflies are suppose to represent transformation and her softer side. Which seems wild to me because she doesn’t seem very soft at all.

Trnasformation? Yes. Softer side? 🤣

The butterfly is an allegory for human evolution. We're caterpillars but through Higher Mind may realize our evolutionary potential to emerge from the cocoon as a butterfly.

 

This has nothing to do with *softer side*. It's a profound spiritual transformation which might occur after suffering. Also there is suffering inherent in such a profound transformation. The Butterfly is the human transcendent, liberated, beautiful.

[TarotSparks]

To me she is honest, thus sometimes perceived as cold - Her words cut as the sword she holds in her right arm, sh is ready to use it. 
In love readings, I often interpret her as a third party (cold b****), as an "Only fans" or similar persona. 
It's also interesting she is the queen that resembles the least of her face - all other queens show more fac, have more to reveal. So, despite the fact she is honest, she can still hide the truth.       

[Oraclekelly]

@TarotSparks  I have never noticed that her face is least shown compared to the other queens. “She can still hide the truth.” I relate to this because interpreting the Queen of Swords is sometimes difficult for me and the fact that she is in a profile position opens up more possibilities of interpretation. Like only receiving one side of the story or half the truth. Very interesting. 

[Celine]

I wonder if the "widow" meaning cannot be interpreted as both isolated and severed from the influence a partner can have on her thoughts/beliefs/ideas.  It doesn't mean a Queen of Swords (man or woman) cannot love, but that ultimately love will not bend their passion for truth and integrity. 

I can't help but find that all the Court cards in the Swords suit look huge, the landscape far far below, they are out of proportions.

The clouds are indeed thicker and denser around the Queen of S.  Thus she can lose sight of the real world with ordinary people and the compromises they make, which don't necessarily mean that she should demote them from her consideration or esteem for not having the same demands on truth and integrity as hers. (the "no bullshit" is something I've read several times in different books. And the thing is, sometimes a little bit of "bs" is also a protection for people and it is something the Queen of S might totally overlook).

I laid down the 4 Court cards side by side starting by the King, and in that order she seems to heed the Knight of Swords rushing towards her. I thought that could reveal her own zealous side. 

 

[Ferrea]

3 hours ago, Celine said:

And the thing is, sometimes a little bit of "bs" is also a protection for people and it is something the Queen of S might totally overlook).

 

Sounds like a treat for me when I'm in QoS mode.

[xStardustx]

Queen of Swords. 

 

Her hand is outstretched but her sword is at the ready as if to say, 

 

If you come with nonsense, it's off with your head. 

 

As for her facial expression, this is the suit of Swords - intellect, logic. When I am focused or concentrating, 

 

"Stardust, are you mad?"

 

Not at all. I am just hyper focused on the task at hand. So, when I see the Queen of Swords, I think she's just thinking, focused and concentrating. 

 

Her cape matches the landscape - blue sky and fluffy clouds. I take that as a sign to be aware of clouded judgement. To not be too hasty with that sword. 

 

Don't be too quick to judge. Because for all the bad things clouds can hide, they can hide a lot of good things too. Knowing how to cut through the crap is a great skill. It takes an even greater skill to cut through the crap and bring out The Good Stuff. 

 

There seems to be a lot of hyper focus on deception that hurts. Deception that is stemming from malice. Deception also stems from self preservation, fear, history of abuse/trauma, etc etc etc. It isn't good but it isn't always based on pure malice either. 

 

I think the Queen of Swords is an analytical, logical type of person. However, I also think Queens are the internal representation while Kings are the external representation. 

 

The Queen of Swords uses that same analysis and logic on her own self too. Essentially making her, her own worst critic. I have seen references in previous responses that she seems unhappy or unfulfilled. I could see the Queen of Swords struggling to feel adequate. Simply becuse she is so logical and critical of her own self. As much as she is with anyone else. 

 

Perhaps, the clouds aren't about the deception or perception of others - but about the perception of her own self. Looking at her own self with clouded perception because she's thinking so critically of her own self. A very "when your own brain is your own worst enemy" kind of vibe. 

 

 

[Chariot]

On 10/23/2024 at 4:33 AM, Oraclekelly said:

@TarotSparks  I have never noticed that her face is least shown compared to the other queens. “She can still hide the truth.” I relate to this because interpreting the Queen of Swords is sometimes difficult for me and the fact that she is in a profile position opens up more possibilities of interpretation. Like only receiving one side of the story or half the truth. Very interesting. 

I think it's significant that in the RWS deck she is the ONE Queen who is NOT partly facing forward.  She is definitely not looking at whoever may be approaching her from 'our' direction.  In that sense, she is the least approachable Queen.  As Swords is the suit of logic, as well as action, perhaps this indicates that logic is not something that can be 'influenced' by other things.  It's there, it's what it is, and you can't argue against it in a logical way.  She is not open to enthusiastic, emotional, or material manipulation.